El Cerrito Resident Reports Mountain Lion Sighting

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported recently that 52 percent of mountains lions that were necropsied last year had eaten pets such as dogs and cats.

• See: California’s Mountain Lions Are Eating Our Pets: Report

It doesn’t just happened somewhere else. Nancy Lyon contacted El Cerrito Patch to warn residents that she spotted a mountain lion last week. She told Patch the cougar ”was sighted on the top of Betty Lane, one house down from where it intersects with Devonshire Tuesday night at 7 pm. It was lingering on the downhill side of Betty Lane in a yard, on my right, bounded in front of my car, in one leap landing in the center of the road, and in a second leap was off of the road to my left. It had a very long tail. It paused under a tall shrub to study me and slowly continued into those gardens beside the house.”

• Also See: Half-naked Man Chases Mountain Lion to Save His Dog

The DFW offers these safety tips for coexisting with mountain lions:

• Do not hike, bike, or jog alone
• Avoid hiking or jogging when mountain lions are most active – dawn, dusk, and at night
• Keep a close watch on small children
• Do not approach a mountain lion
• If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run; instead, face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms; throw rocks or other objects. Pick up small children
• If attacked, fight back
• If a mountain lion attacks a person, immediately call 911

--mountain lion image via California Department of Fish and Wildlife